The State of Oklahoma has secured land for one of the world’s largest stands of switchgrass that will be devoted to cellulosic ethanol production. Planting will take place within the next 45 days.

First Reserve Corporation has completed the acquisition of Gamesa Solar for a total consideration of EUR 261 million [US $406 million]. First Reserve has also acquired Italian solar company Ener3. The company plans to use these assets to create a European renewable energy group with the ability to deliver solar capacity of up to 400 megawatts (MW) in Southern Europe over the next four years.

Stratos Renewables Corporation, a South American sugarcane ethanol producer, announced the company has entered into a strategic agreement with affiliates of RNK Capital LLC to structure and manage commodity transactions in the global emissions trading market.

Monsanto Company and Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. announced a collaborative agreement for the development of Mendel’s BioEnergy Seeds & Feedstocks business. Mendel and Monsanto have worked together on the development of biotechnology traits for more than a decade in many crops, including corn, soy, cotton and canola.

U.S. Geothermal Inc. announced that it has completed the previously announced underwritten private placement of 4,260,000 units of the company at a price of US $2.34 per unit. Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one additional Common Share of the Company prior to April 29, 2010 for US $3.00 per Common Share.

Following unanimous Senate concurrence with an Ohio House bill, legislation to establish a 12.5%-by-2025 renewable electricity standard (RES) is headed to the desk of Governor Ted Strickland (D). The governor is expected to sign the bill on May 1st, but has offered no public statement regarding the final legislation.

United Kingdom, April, 2008 — The SolarWall® air heating technology was awarded a World Green Business Award in the category of “Best Use of a Product Design” for its involvement in a brand new Sainsbury Distribution Center in Northampton, England. The award for SolarWall was presented to Andrew Brewster of the CA Group, the SolarWall licensee in the UK, at a ceremony in London by BBC Senior Environmental Correspondent Roger Harrabin. The building is a combined effort between Sainsbury, which is one of the world’s largest retailers, and Prologis, which is one of the world’s largest real estate developers. It demonstrates the new standards that are being established for sustainable construction.